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Farmers in the city of Tamura, Fukushima Prefecture, have begun planting rice in a district once designated a no-go zone because of radioactive fallout ejected by the disaster-hit Fukushima No. 1 power plant.
Recently I was asked to write a blurb for a new liquid plant-nutrient. As soon as I saw the name of the product, 早根早起 （Hayane Hayaoki), I smiled at this example of linguistic creativity.
Life in Japan just seems tailor-made for certain foreign residents, who slip into the fabric of this society as smoothly as a hand slides into a glove. American Curtis Patterson, a professional koto player and music teacher, is a case in point. Not only ...
Denmark’s Emmelie de Forest won this year’s Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night with her ethno-inspired flute and drum tune “Only Teardrops,” despite tough competition from spectacular stage shows by performers from Azerbaijan and Ukraine. Juries and television viewers across Europe awarded the barefoot, ...
One team’s quest for a first title has ended. The other team’s fight will continue next season. The Yokohama B-Corsairs outplayed the Rizing Fukuoka in Sunday’s bj-league championship game, controlling the tempo for larger stretches and making enough timely baskets to fill an instructional ...
British tax advice wanted MS in Kamakura wonders if we know of any consultants who advise individuals on their tax status under the U.K.-Japan Tax Treaty. “I’m thinking in particular about inheritance tax and theissue of domicile.” We suggest you begin by either calling ...
Empty nest syndrome K’ko is suffering from what she calls “empty nest blues” — that is, being without husband or children. “Do you know of a psychologist (American/Japanese, familiar with both cultures) and marriage counselor who works in the Shibuya/Hiroo/Roppongi area and not too ...
Diana and Peter were pleased to find the column “How to do Japan — in a VW camper van” (Lifelines, Nov. 16) on the Japan Times website. “It answered many of our questions as we are hoping to bring our Australian-registered Land Rover camper ...
Back in summer, the owner of AB’s rented apartment wanted to spray the property for cockroaches (gokiburi). AB was far from happy. “I don’t want chemicals being sprayed in my home. I use natural products wherever possible and feel sick when using even regular ...
Oh, the pros and woes of responding to your queries. Great advice, personal experience — even the odd wakeup call. Here are some responses to our Nov. 16 column on “How to do Japan — in a VW camper van”: One of the best ...
Reader M.A. lives next to U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa and is bothered by the noise from the airport. “About two to three months ago planes started flying at night until about two in the morning. I would move but I ...
Reader M.T. has lived in Japan for over 20 years and his brother is planning a visit, with a twist: The brother, his wife and two children are hoping to travel around the country living out of their Volkswagen camper van. “My brother, who ...
A.M. has a big problem. Having had a driver’s license for over 30 years, he got busy and suddenly discovered that it had expired — more than a year ago! “When I went in to the driver’s license office, I was told that I ...
FF in Tokyo has a barking dog next door that just won’t stop! “Our neighbors have a caged dog that lives outside. The barking continues for at least an hour, starting after 9 p.m. and often not stopping until well after midnight.” This happens ...
Baha’i outreach MN thanks us for writing about her community (Lifelines, Sept. 21). “Just in case Janice or other readers are interested, there is a small but active Baha’i community in the Kansai area. Janice can find out more by e-mailing marynoguchi@gaia.eonet.ne.jp or Brett ...
Death row record ST is a member of Amnesty International. Now back in the U.K., she spent several years in Japan, and was horrified to read in a recent issue of Amnesty Magazine (issue 61, May/June 2010) that a Japanese man is believed to ...
Reader KS is having a hard time and doesn’t know where to turn. “I have been working for years but suddenly find myself unemployed, over 60 and unwell. I didn’t know about the pension program so have not paid into it at all. What ...